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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

EU, Georgia trade deal bodes well for Georgian wine exports

By Keith Nuthall

31.07.2013. Wine producers in Georgia are targeting improved export sales to the European Union after the creation of a “deep and comprehensive free trade area” between the EU and the Caucasus republic.

“Wine imports from Georgia will have free access to the EU market,” a spokesperson for the European Commission has told just-drinks. “They will pay no more tariffs, and be imported without any quantitative restriction.”

Wine from Georgia’s wine industry could “access the EU market on a level playing field with European wines”, he said.

Last year, Georgia exported US$9.2m of wine (including fortified and sparkling wines) to the EU. The EU exported significantly less wine to Georgia last year; just $2.6m of standard still and fortified wine and $1.9m of sparkling wine last.